Utility Fleet Professional December 2016 : Page 14

SMART FLEETS FLEET MAINTENANCE Photo: Qualcomm Could Cutting the Cord Accelerate Electric Vehicle Growth? Proponents believe that wireless EV charging holds the key to wider market acceptance. by Sean M. Lyden I f your ﬂeet operates plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) — or is planning to do so — there’s an emerging technology you’ll want to put on your radar that could impact your vehicle selection and charging infrastructure decisions within the next year or two. It’s wireless EV charging, which proponents believe holds the key to widespread transporta-tion electriﬁcation. That’s because one of the friction points of operating EVs is the inconvenience of charging with a conventional cord and plug-in system, 12 said David Schatz, vice president of business development and sales for WiTricity (http:// witricity.com), a ﬁrm that develops wireless charging systems for EVs, headquartered in Watertown, Mass. Schatz cites a major automaker’s internal study that found that 70 percent of all plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) owners never plug in and opt for fueling only with gas because of the “inconvenience” of plugging in their vehicle. The idea here is that if you cut the cord, >> Andrew Daga John Boodhansingh Lisa Jerram David Schatz Utility Fleet Professional | DECEMBER 2016